Recruits 'only thing that will solve' York City's problems

York were soundly beaten 2-0 at fellow play-off chasers Gateshead on Tuesday night having been outplayed from start to finish against the North East club.

Having recorded back-to-back wins over Blyth Spartans and Guiseley, this was another major setback in City’s season, with eight defeats from 16 matches in the Vanarama National League North for the pre-season title favourites leaving them 11th in the table.

Assessing the defeat, interim manager Askey simply labelled the performance as “not good enough” and thinks that further recruits are the sole way City can rebuild.

“The only thing that’ll solve it is getting better players in,” Askey said, adding that he was “hoping” to have new faces before Saturday’s home game with Chorley.
“That will help the ones in there that are capable.

“(But) if you’re not good enough, it doesn’t matter what you do. The ones who we know are capable at this level, it’ll give them a lift and will hopefully help them, we’ll start playing better and hopefully confidence comes.

“We need some fresh faces in to change it up. Because that’s why we are where we are.

“I think we’re got one or two in there that aren’t capable. Until we get better players in, we’re going to struggle.

“We’ll get the odd game against lesser teams when we will do well. But if we want to compete, then we’ve got to get better players in.”

Askey added: “I think that one or two are lacking in confidence, there’s some who can play better than that.

“But sometimes when you’ve got players out there who aren’t good enough, then they can drag you down.”

Gateshead had numerous chances in the first half which York just about dealt with, until Adam Senior tripped Cedwyn Scott in the box, handing the same player a chance to convert a penalty.

It was a challenge he should not have been making in the first place, his manager insisted.

Askey said: “You talk and talk and say ‘Stay on your feet, stay on your feet’, that was the last thing I said to Adam Senior because that’s what he did on Saturday, he stayed on his feet and defended well.

“Why go and tackle somebody in the box? (But) that’s what we’ve got.”

The interim manager went on to point that, despite the slim number of chances City had, they may have been able to snatch something with better end product.

“As bad as we were at times, in the second half, we could have got something,” said Askey.

“I think that Kurt (Willoughby) had about three chances. Even in the first minute, Kurt should have squared it to Mark Beck and he’s gone to shoot which is the wrong decision-making.

“There’s a lot of decision-making that is obviously costing us.

“I think that anybody that has been to the game can see what the problems are.”

Willoughby and Mitch Hancox, who Askey worked with at former club Macclesfield Town, were pointed to as two of the players the boss is happy with.

“I thought Mitch Hancox showed some guts and that’s what you need at times,” lauded Askey.

"He’s worked his socks off and again Kurt Willoughby, you can’t knock him, because he’s worked and got into those positions.

“He gives us everything he’s got and we need people like that.

“Those two might not always have the best quality. But I know one thing, I know what I’m going to get when I go out onto the pitch.”

York’s attentions now turn to Saturday’s home game against Chorley. It is a daunting task on paper given that Chorley are a place above Gateshead in third.

The LNER Community Stadium is also expected to hold a record crowd as ticket prices for the match have been cut significantly, potentially adding further expectation to this current City side.

“You’ve got to come in and forget that, whether we won or lost,” Askey said of their preparations after such a defeat. “You’ve got to forget it and work harder now.

“Gateshead are one of the better teams (in this division) and Chorley are a decent team, but it’ll be a different type of game, they won’t play so much football as Gateshead try and play.

“We’ve got to be stronger and hopefully I’m able to get one or two players in.”